Initially Gosplan had an advisory role. Its primary objective was
the co-ordination of the economic plans of Union republics and the
creation of the common Union plan. In 1925 Gosplan started creating
annual economic plans, known as "control numbers" ( ). who had
worked on issues to do with electrification in 1920.

In 1930 the Statistical Directorate was merged into Gosplan, and on
February 3, 1931 Gosplan was resubordinated to the Sovnarkom.

In May 1955 Gosplan was split into two commissions: the USSR
Council of Ministers State Commission for Perspective Planning ( ,
USSR Gosplan), and the USSR Council of Ministers Economic
Commission for Immediate State Economic Planning ( ). These were,
respectively, tasked with predictive and immediate planning. The
work of the latter was based on the five-year plans delivered by
Gosplan, with Gosplan planning 10–15 years ahead.

Gosplan
was headquartered at the building now occupied by the State Duma,
in Moscow.